Beating the Heat pt 2
Summer is upon us, and mother earth has turned the temperature up, wayyy up!
Last summer I shared a blog post about how our hormones influence our experience with heat, Feeling the Heat check it out! In this blog post I will share with you the effects that heat has on our hormones, mind, and body, along with some ideas on how to beat the heat this summer.
The sunshine and summertime feelings have a positive effect on many people. We are more social during these months, connection with others playing a large part in our physical and mental health. We spend more time outside, traveling, and eating on patios!
Most people feel healthier during the summer months, which may be due to the sunshine and heat effects on the body’s vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is a hormone made in the kidneys, produced from the skins response to sunlight, along with some absorption through ingested foods (only about 10%). When we have more skin exposed to the sun from less clothing and more sun exposure, we are able to increase the amount of vitamin D circulating in the body. Vitamin D plays a large role in the body’s immune system, bone health, mental health, and can help regulate menstrual cycle hormones as well.
As the body heats up, so do our cortisol levels. Cortisol is our body’s stress hormone; more stress = more cortisol. Hot conditions act as a stressor to the body, which responds by producing and secreting more cortisol. High cortisol symptoms include muscle weakness, high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, weak bones, and more. These common symptoms can also influence the pelvic floor function, increasing incontinence, and pelvic dysfunction. It may sound like cortisol should be decreased completely, but cortisol does play an important role in regulating many body systems and functions.
Although summertime is associated with a more positive mental health impact, it can also be triggering for irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and anxiety. I think in this case the pro’s outweigh the cons. During the hot summer months there are still many things to do that are positive to our mental health.
Here are some ways that you can beat the heat this summer:
Stay hydrated; sipping water throughout the day, not chugging all at once. High water content vegetables also increase hydration levels.
Get wet: find a public beach or pool that you can take a dip in.
Fans: They can be found for relatively low costs and make a difference for a house without AC.
Mindful movements: be careful exercising in the heat, try to do outdoor activities in the morning, or evening hours to avoid peak heat and sun time.
Keep it loose: keep your skin protected with SPF, and loose light clothing.
The summer heat has many benefits and cautions that come with it. Summer is associated with increased vitamin D levels, changes to cortisol, sleep quality, and mood. Help support your body by keeping it cool this summer by staying hydrated, getting wet, using fans, moving mindfully, and keeping it loose. Most importantly, enjoy the summer season!
